Suzuki Provides Aid Following Chinese Earthquake

Suzuki is providing 10 million yen (US$100,500) in aid to the Red Cross Society to provide support for those affected by the April 20 earthquake in China’s Sichuan province. Suzuki‘s pledge is in addition to 1 million RMB (US$161,000) donated by Chongqing Changan Suzuki Automobile Co., a Suzuki joint venture with China’s Changan Group.

The region in southwestern China was hit by a major tremor at about 8 o’clock in the morning, local time. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.6, with aftershocks registering magnitudes up to 5.1. As of this writing, the earthquake resulted in the death of 186 people. Another 11,000 people were injured and nearly two dozen in rural communities remain unaccounted for.

Sichuan was also the cite of a 8.0-magnitude earthquake in 2008 that resulted in the death of an estimated 87,000 people.

Suzuki’s aid comes weeks after the company announced a donation of 500 million yen (US$5 million) toward construction of stronger seawalls in Hamamatsu, Japan, to protect the city from flooding from future earthquakes and tsunamis.